Disney4me

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Attractions Lead Willy McKenna discovered his educational goals are in a galaxy not-so-far away thanks to Disney Aspire, the 100 percent tuition-paid education program for eligible cast members. Disney Aspire is part of The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to supporting the dreams of its cast members, and for Willy, that dream is a Master’s degree. We’re excited to share Willy’s inspiring journey with you in this installment of our #DreamsWithinReach series, which follows cast members making their dreams a reality through Disney Aspire. Long before Willy began creating magical memories for guests as a Disneyland Resort cast member, he was making special Disney memories of his own. Willy grew up spending family vacations at Walt Disney World Resort and visited Disneyland Resort for the first time during the 50th anniversary. While studying business administration at Saint Louis University, Willy began his career with The Walt Disney Company after being invited to participate in the Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World Resort. After graduating with his undergraduate degree, he moved across the country to work at Elias & Co. in Disney California Adventure Park. Here, Willy discovered Disney Aspire and made the decision to follow in his family’s footsteps and continue his educational pursuits. “Both of my parents have Master’s degrees, and my sister is finishing hers, so education has always been very important in my family,” shared Willy. “I decided to pursue my Master’s in organizational leadership through Disney Aspire with the goal to open more doors with Disney.” Now, as part of the test and adjust team at the new, highly anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Willy looks forward to the endless opportunities ahead while reflecting on what the program means to him. “It means everything to me,” said Willy. “I already had a lot of respect for the company, but the fact that Disney is willing to put out the money, effort and time to invest in me means the world – even the galaxy!” Since launching in 2018, Disney Aspire continues to help hourly cast members achieve their long-term educational goals. Whether cast pursue professional skills or graduate degrees – they can do so from an ever-increasing network of schools that now includes University of Central Florida for eligible Florida cast members and master’s degree programs from the University of Florida Online for all eligible cast members. Disney Aspire connects cast members with access to programs, coaching, and job skills, while cost of tuition is paid upfront at in-network schools and application fees, books and course materials are reimbursed by Disney. We’re happy Willy is well on his way to obtaining his Master’s degree! As cast members like Willy pursue their goals with Disney Aspire, we’re excited to continue to share more motivating stories through our #DreamsWithinReach series. Learn more about the program and apply by visiting aspire.disney.com. View the full article

Candy Sushi is a family-friendly event which made its debut at last year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival. This popular event is returning for the 2019 Festival, and today we’re sharing booking information for Candy Sushi. Candy Sushi And the because this event filled up so quickly last year, you’ll definitely want to know some things in advance. (Not familiar with Candy Sushi? You can read our review of the event by clicking here!) Candy Sushi Schedule and Fee Candy Sushi will be offered at 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM daily throughout the Festival at Sunshine Seasons in The Land pavilion in Future World. For 2019, Candy Sushi is presented by Adventures By Disney with candy provided by Mars Wrigley Confectionary. Seating for Candy Sushi New in 2019: Candy Sushi –which was complimentary in 2018 — has a booking fee for 2019. The event costs $10 per guest. Booking Information Booking in advance, while not required, is highly recommended and is now open (and note this event did fill quickly in 2018). To book, call (407) WDW-FEST or visit the Candy Sushi page on the Disney World website. Be sure to visit our 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival page for more Festival information! Will you be attending Candy Sushi this year? Please let us know with a comment! Ready to Plan for Your 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? Pre-order the DFB Guide to the 2019 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! As part of the pre-order you’ll receive a preliminary edition of the 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide with a fully-updated Daily Schedule of Events! Pre-order your 2019 edition today! Don’t miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% off the cover price! Related posts: New Booking Information for Candy Sushi at the 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Dates and Details Are HERE!! Will These Special Events Return for the 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival? View the full article

We are, at long last, in Oga’s Cantina on planet Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! Oga’s Cantina CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!? We’ve been dreaming about this for YEARS! But the dreaming is over, and it’s time for reality. Oga’s Cantina Because when you set foot inside Oga’s, you are stepping into a genuine Star Wars cantina, filled with history, character (in more ways than one), music, and out-of-this-galaxy drinks… all in a setting like no other. And now it’s time… Oga’s Cantina … to STEP INSIDE!! The Watering Hole of Black Spire Outpost You’ll notice a large domed building in the First Order sector of Galaxy’s Edge around the corner from the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. Oga’s Cantina This is Oga’s Cantina, the local watering hole in Black Spire Outpost. And as the village itself draws more than its fair share of smugglers, bounty hunters, and rogues (and, here and there, members of the Resistance… though we’ll never tell), Oga’s Cantina is filled with the like. Getting In! Bear in mind, during these opening weeks of Galaxy’s Edge, those with required reservations to enter the land will have a four-hour time limit to experience it. Line Up Early to Get In! While we don’t know how things will change once the land opens to the general public starting June 24th, we can still offer some advice: if the Cantina is on the top of your list of what to see in Galaxy’s Edge, then get in line immediately upon entering the land. So far with preview periods, lines have been constant, with at least 45-60 minute wait times even with the land operating at lower capacity. And note that Cast Members have been closing the line before reservation periods end. But that wait? Oga’s Cantina IT’S WORTH IT. Once inside, here are the rules: you may be given a 45-minute time limit (at least in this beginning phase), and there is a limit of 2 drinks per guest. Your mileage may vary, and we hope it does. And away we go! Oga Garra Oga Garra is the alien proprietor of the Cantina (and, so we hear, the “crime boss” of the Outpost) and she doesn’t want any funny business going on in her establishment. Oga’s Cantina Just keep your cool, kid, and you’ll be alright. As far as Oga’s whereabouts herself… well, that depends on who you ask. In speaking with some citizens of Batuu (aka Cast Members), one said she never comes to the cantina herself, while another informed that she’s often in the office overlooking the scene. Yet another said she stopped in from “time to time.” Basically, though, Oga is not a character you will encounter in the Cantina. But her presence will be felt all around you…and you WILL hear her from time to time… . The Bar, Seating, and Decor You’ll notice the circular bar taking center stage — it winds around the whole room. Oga’s Cantina It is lit so that not only does the bar itself glow, but so do your drinks! Oga’s Cantina In the middle of it all is a floor-to-ceiling piece where the taps are located for the drinks. Oga’s Cantina Glowing canisters are filled with bubbling liquid. Bartenders serve beverages crafted from… well, from whatever liquid substance is in the tanks above — which also just so happen to house alien creatures. Oga’s Cantina Within the tanks of the cantina you may spot a pickled Mynock, a Swamp Slug, or a Worrt peering out from the liquids. The Worrt Sees All Oga’s Cantina Oga’s Cantina If you’re not too overwhelmed by emotion from stepping into a cantina for the first time (WE SURE WON’T JUDGE), you may notice there are no seats surrounding the bar (presumably to help with crowd flow in the crazy-popular-before-it-ever-even-opened hot spot of Batuu). There are a few seats and tables in the cantina, provided by a few semi-circular brown leather booths and a few long, standing bar tables that are curved to form the circular shape of the room. Booths Note that a lot of guests can expect standing room only, though, and the space does get very crowded both with guests and Cast Members taking drink orders around the room. Booth The tables are “wooden,” but have lights embedded down the middle which change colors and light up your drinks from below! Curved Table You’ll notice below the flat, almost mosaic-like pattern of irregularly shaped rocks on the floor acting as tiles. And above? You’ll see an exposed ceiling with pipes and tubes. Oga’s Cantina But there’s more… and these are no Jedi Mind Tricks! The cantina also possesses powers… HYPERDRIVE powers, to be exact. The whole space shuts down when it’s overloaded. Oga’s Cantina Hyperdrive Entertainment The tunes in the Cantina? They’re coming at you from none other than DJ R-3X! DJ R-3X! You may already know DJ Rex from Star Tours as RX-24, former Starspeeder 3000 pilot. Well (as we learned from the Galaxy’s Edge Panel at Star Wars Celebration Chicago), after flunking out of Star Tours, Rex found his way to the rebellion in the Battle of Jakku. In a TIE Fighter chase, Rex crash-landed on Batuu where he was repaired and turned into the DJ at Oga’s Cantina. DJ R-3X! And now DJ R-3X is spinning continuous tunes by his favorite droid bands for your listening pleasure! He has a set show, and doesn’t interact with guests, per se. But he’s pretty much what you’d expect: super cute and a ton of fun! Now, Oga’s Cantina is the very FIRST location, besides the exclusive Club 33, to serve alcohol in Disneyland Park; we’ll be back soon with our review of ALL the drinks and snacks you can get in this wretched hive of scum and villany! But we’ll leave you with a teeny little peek in the meantime… Blue Bantha In the meantime, “Cheers!” from Oga’s Cantina! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney to experience the new location. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Related posts: How Do The 10 Biggest Disney News Stories This Year Affect Your Disney Trips in 2019? Find Out! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cliffs Notes…Here’s What You Absolutely NEED To Know After The Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB Dropped Last Night! 2019 Disney Restaurant ULTIMATE GUIDE: What You Need To Know About EVERY Restaurant Opening In Disney World and Disneyland in 2019! View the full article

In honor of the dedication ceremony of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort, we’re sharing our first-ever Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge digital wallpaper for you to download now! Taken by Richard Harbaugh, this stunning image features the infamous port, Black Spire Outpost. In the foreground, the new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is ready for you and your flight crew to take the controls of the fastest ship in the galaxy on a special mission! This out-of-this-world wallpaper is available for your desktop or mobile device. Please be sure to check out the terms of use before downloading it. View the full article

Curious as to what you’ll find when you step inside Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities in Black Spire Outpost? Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Then join us as we explore the artifacts, relics, ancient tools, and more that are tucked into each and every corner and crevice of Dok-Ondar’s Den in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities The Ithorian, with his reputation as the “gatekeeper” of the black market in the Outpost, has packed his den with items of mystery and intrigue. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Is it a jewel you seek? A statue of one of the characters whose stories you’ve heard in the legends of the galaxy? Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities A lightsaber? One of the rare kyber crystals? Or perhaps an item that once belonged to a Jedi or Sith? Lightsabers Well, it’s quite possible that you’ll find what you’re searching for somewhere in Dok-Ondar’s collection. (How his collection was amassed? Well, those are tales Dok keeps to himself.) Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Of course, you’ll need to set aside some time to explore the location and pick out your galactic goodies first… The circular, two story setting is revealed after you enter an automatic door and choose whether to go left or right around the wall that first faces you. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities The downstairs area provides the shopping space. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities While the upstairs is lined with creature taxidermy and other-worldly knick-knacks. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities In fact, the Arc of the Covenant is up there, too, I’ve heard tell. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities All the while, Dok-Ondar sits in the corner at his desk. And while the bars might indicate that he keeps to himself, that’s not actually the case. Dok Ondar When Dok-Ondar gets upset, you’ll know it, because you’ll hear and see him. Dok Ondar That said, can you interact with him? Not so much. Though Dok-Ondar is known for driving a hard bargain, we didn’t have any success bartering with him. Based on what Disney had originally shared, we thought you could almost converse like a “Turtle Talk with Crush” situation, but it’s not. It’s more like you can chat with the Cast Member stationed near Dok-Ondar. But overall, the store is still way cool. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities And at Star Wars Celebration Chicago, Disney Imagineers shared that no matter which Star Wars era most speaks to you, you’re more than likely to spy an Easter egg or two — or more — in honor of it throughout the shop, so keep your eyes peeled for more than just the shop’s stock for sale! Antiquities And now, as for Dok-Ondar’s famed antiquities… Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities The merchandise sold here is primarily high-end. (Basically, be prepared for some sticker shock from Dok). For just a few examples… Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities While this shop isn’t an outfitter, per se, you will see items like Jedi robes and even Princess Leia’s white outfit for around $200.00. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities These are no mere toys. From wall art to statues of Sith and Jedi, you will likely find a tribute to those you’ve heard about in the legends of the galaxy… from both the Light and the Dark Side. General Grievous Mask Imperial TIE Fighter Helmet Darth Vader Artwork And there’s more everywhere you turn inside the Den. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Legacy Lightsabers The lightsabers here are not customizable, as are the lightsabers you can build at Savi’s Workshop. Lightsabers However, if you dream of carrying a pair of Ahsoka Tano’s lightsabers or that of another Star Wars character (Kylo Ren, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Mace Windu, and each of Luke Skywalker’s lightsabers among them), you may find it here among the collection of Legacy Lightsabers! Lightsabers Lightsabers Lightsabers You can also pick up accessories for your chosen Lightsaber including carrier bags, belt clips, and display cases. Holocrons The Den is also where you’ll find the Holocrons perched on the opposite side of the wall which you faced upon entering. Holocrons You may choose a Jedi Holocron cube or a Sith Holocron pyramid. Sith Holocron Fun feature: if you choose to put both together, you’ll hear from both sides as they battle, and even hear from Bendu. (“The light and the dark. I’m the one in the middle. The Bendu.“) From the Holocrons, you’ll hear voices speaking the ancient wisdom and history of the Force, or messages of the power of the Dark Side, accordingly. Holocron and Kyber Crystals And those voices are ones you already know. For instance, I purchased a Jedi Holocron. On its own, it is $50.00 (as are the Sith pyramids) and comes with a USB charging cord. Jedi Holocron The blue Holocron as it comes on its own presents the voice of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi — “Trust in the Force” — when you turn the corners of the cube and press on the designated areas. Jedi Holocron You’ll hear advice or encouragement such as, “We must persevere and, in time, a new hope will emerge.” BUT! Perhaps you’d like your Holocron to share messages from other Jedi Masters, like Master Yoda. Well, you can purchase kyber crystals to insert inside the Holocron ($12.99 per kyber crystal). Green Kyber Crystal If you purchase and insert the green kyber crystal, for example… Insert Kyber Crystal … you’ll hear messages from Yoda while the Holocron emits a new, green glow. Jedi Holocron with Green Kyber Crystal White, purple, blue, yellow, and red are your other color choices. Here is my honest impression of my Holocron: it’s cool looking, and the voices and sounds are great. Jedi Holocron Label That said, mine doesn’t offer me an abundance of messages. It’s pretty repetitive. And the item itself doesn’t feel very sturdy — if it’s not handled gently, I have to wonder how long it will last. Jedi Holocron Price Tag So, unless your kid seriously can’t make it without one (and they WILL want one because — let’s face it — they do look cool), I can’t say it’s worth the $50.00 price tag. Still, serious Star Wars collectors are going to have a BLAST. Galaxy’s Edge Reusable Bags Remember, no matter what you purchase, you also have the option to buy a reusable bag. Galaxy’s Edge Reusable Bag How cool will you feel using THIS as your grocery bag back on earth (it’s exclusive to Galaxy’s Edge!)? Galaxy’s Edge Reusable Bag Dok-Ondar himself welcomes you (well, in his own way ) to explore the treasure troves of his Den of Antiquities! The question is: what are YOU hoping to find inside? Visit our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge page so you don’t miss a moment of coverage of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney to experience the new location. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Related posts: Disney Shares Ground View of Millennium Falcon in Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cliffs Notes…Here’s What You Absolutely NEED To Know After The Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB Dropped Last Night! OGA’S CANTINA to Serve Up Drinks and Entertainment in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!! View the full article

It’s time for YOU to take control of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run! Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is one of what will ultimately be two attractions in Galaxy’s Edge. (Its counterpart, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, will open later this year.) And when you step into Smugglers Run, you’ll be on a mission. Through your assigned role of Pilot, Engineer, or Gunner, you’ll help your crew either succeed or fail in transporting contraband cargo as directed by Hondo Ohnaka. Honda Ohnaka But, you’ve got to get onboard first… Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run The Millennium Falcon When you walk into Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll find the Millennium Falcon docked at a maintenance bay tucked in a spaceport in the middle of the Outpost. And it is a sight to behold… Millennium Falcon It’s hard to miss, but for reference, it’s located between Oga’s Cantina and Docking Bay 7. And it really is massive — truly larger than life. Now I know you want to run and get in the queue, but before we continue…some logistics: Citizens of Batuu Remember, at this time, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run does NOT offer FASTPASS. (Fastpass signage noting “Flight Crews Wanted” and tapstyles outside of the ride indicate that it will be available in the future.) It does, however, have a Single Rider line along with the regular standby queue. The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Queue The queue begins by winding around the massive 110-foot Millennium Falcon itself. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run You’ll notice cargo, pipes, and plenty of grease stains under the Falcon along the way (which is clearly having some work done thanks to a recent botched mission). Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Outside, you’ll move through what looks like tunneled-out rock outcroppings from the surrounding stone structures and building. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Throughout the queue you’ll see light panels complete with switches and blinking lights (though you can’t actually press down any of the buttons). The queue then winds guests into Ohnaka Transport Solutions where several ships are being worked on in a garage of sorts. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run This room of the queue is about two stories tall (and feels somewhat like the waiting area for Tower of Terror or Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout). Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run You’ll go up a series of winding ramps, and there are vignettes to check out as you move through the industrial setting. (Your nose will even pick up on the strong smell of tire rubber and grease!) Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run As you first walk in, you’ll notice a card table to your left where it seems some of the mechanics were enjoying some downtime with a game of Sabacc. And you’ll overhear conversations between workers — doing a little shop talk about things they need to get done, hours they’re putting in on the job, potential promotions… and you may even catch a mention of a certain lovable Wookie… Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Once you arrive at the top of the highest ramp, you can even view the Falcon from above and then from various angles as you continue, while listening to the Ohnaka crew preparing the ship. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run And the views are AWESOME. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Tools, equipment, and cargo holds further set the scene. Ship testing continues, and you may hear more talk from the citizens: “Shut that generator down. We don’t want an angry Hondo Ohnaka on our backs!” Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run You’ll enter the first loading room, and gather in front of one of two sets of automatic doors, and even get a few pointers on repairing ship damage. (Gee, I wonder why you’ll need that?) Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run And then, the doors open… The Mission Weequay pirate Hondo Ohnaka is in need of some assistance from more flight crews. You’ll encounter him in the Command Center, where he’ll present you with “the opportunity of a lifetime!” Hondo Ohnaka And let me say… you truly do encounter Hondo Ohnaka, as this state-of-the-art audio-animatronic is something you have to see to believe. He’s incredible. Hondo Ohnaka And he’ll tell you a thing or two, while he’s at it: “You’re insulting my honor, and I have very little honor to insult.” Hondo Ohnaka The space pirate is accompanied by his droid, R5-P8, who is busy repairing equipment just below him. Hondo Ohnaka Behind them, you’ll catch a few more glimpses of the Millennium Falcon before it settles into the hangar bay. Hondo Ohnaka And you’ll catch more than a glimpse of Chewbacca, who appears on screen to converse with Hondo. The last thing you hear from Hondo? “The better you work together, the more you earn.” Flight Crew Assignment Then you’ll head down a hallway to receive your role — Pilot, Gunner, or Engineer — by way of a cardboard card with your assignment. Flight Crew Assignment Flight Crew Assignment The Chess Room Next, it’s time to enter the main hold of the ship. And THIS might be the place that feels most like, as Han Solo said to Chewie, “HOME.” The Chess Room It’s the chess room. Riders can gather ’round the Dejarik table like Chewbacca and snap photos while awaiting their flight. The Chess Room FOR REAL. Dreams really do come true in Disneyland, folks. Flight Crew Positions In the last moments before you board the ship, a Cast Member will inform you that you may barter amongst your group to change positions within your Flight Crew of six, if you like. Again, those positions are: Pilots (2): in charge of boosters, landing gear, and… HYPERSPACE JUMPS! Engineers (2): It’s up to you to keep systems running smoothly when things break down Gunners (2): Basically, shoot back at everything that shoots at the Falcon Flight Crew Position And Hondo Ohnaka will present the pre-flight info for your safety by way of a monitor. THE RIDE At last, IT’S TIME… for YOU to control the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs! Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run The six riders create three rows: pilots in the front, gunners in the middle, and flight engineers in the last row. Activation of the cockpit buttons, switches, and levers commences, and the hangar bay of Ohnaka Transport Solutions is projected onto a domed screen outside the cockpit windows. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run The six of you work together as a team to fly the Millennium Falcon through Smugglers Run to gather cargo and fly back. (From a comparison standpoint regarding the style and intensity of the ride, think Mission: SPACE in Epcot meets Star Tours.) As for the individual jobs, I do think the pilots have the best job, as they’re right up front and always steering the ship, and they have the potential to hit things and make the biggest perceived impact. PLUS, did I mention…? Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run HYPERSPACE JUMPS! Gunners and Engineers press some buttons a couple of times, but it doesn’t make much perceptible difference to the mission, from what I experienced. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run At any rate, that’s all fine and good, until you find yourself smack in a battle with First Order TIE Fighters. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run And your performance? Well, IT COUNTS… somewhat. In truth, the ride itself was less interactive than I anticipated. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run While I do think there are different outcomes based on your team’s level of success on the mission (my team retrieved one item and Hondo informed us we made a “moderate profit”), I believe there are some safeguards in place in case you’re riding with young children or your group’s seats aren’t full (I know, HIGHLY UNLIKELY for, like, the next 10 years or so… but still!), so your time in Galaxy’s Edge is not ruined by a poor performance on the Falcon. The Exit Sadly, there does come a time when you have to exit. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run But, boy, do you leave with some bragging rights! Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run No matter the results of your mission (and, by the way, the exit may look different if you’ve incurred some damage!), YOU have flown the Millennium Falcon. Millennium Falcon Chewie would be proud. Visit our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge page for COMPLETE Galaxy’s Edge coverage! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Are you ready to control the Millennium Falcon? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Disney Shares Ground View of Millennium Falcon in Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Are You Ready to Step Inside Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run? We’ve Got Details! Disney Presents A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge View the full article

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Park has opened its gates, and we’ve explored the planet of Batuu and its pock-marked village, Black Spire Outpost, to bring you the Ultimate Guide to this brand new land. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Know the Lingo! The citizens of Batuu (a/k/a cast members!) use many unfamiliar expressions when interacting with each other and with guests. You might start your visit hearing “Bright suns”, which is Batuu for hello. “Till the Spire” is one way to say good-bye. But if you’re leaving Black Spire Outpost to return to Earth (i.e. Disneyland Park), you might hear a citizen ask if you’re “going off-world”. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge There are some Star Wars-themed expressions that contribute to the spirit and backstories of the land. These include “For the Order”, used when in the First Order area of the land to show your loyalty (even if you prefer the Resistance — keep that under wraps of course). Lightsabers are contraband in Batuu, so if you want to build yours at Savi’s Workshop, try asking a citizen for some scrap metal. And if you’re asking for something else — like, say, directions to Milk Stand — a citizen might frame his response as “lots of rumors are flying everywhere, so this is just what I’ve heard…” Those Batuu residents can be a little cagey… Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Logistically, you really need to know these two: “Refreshers” are restrooms, and “Galactic Credits” are the currency (thankfully and conveniently the equivalent of US currency). Don’t look for signs! Black Spire Outpost has five eateries and beverage purveyors, almost a dozen shops, and (for now) one major attraction. But what this village on Batuu doesn’t have is signs. You won’t see a clear sign for Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, or Resistance Supply, or Savi’s Workshop, or anything, really. In this way, you could find yourself wandering, trying to find your destination. When you’ve only got four hours in a land — as is the case to begin with in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge — this could really be a time-waster. Docking Bay 7 ‘sign’ to the right of the entrance On the flip side, not having clearly marked signs encourages ‘visitors’ to look around, to explore, and to reach out to the citizens of Batuu for some help. Toydarian Toymaker “sign” It also encourages theme park guests to use that immersive Play Disney Parks app, which transforms into a Datapad in Galaxy’s Edge and will help guests translate the symbols that are used in place of signs. Datapad Preview Do it all! Here’s HOW! For the first few weeks that Galaxy’s Edge is open in Disneyland Park, guests will be limited to four hours in the new land. This amount of time — and the restricted number of guests assigned to each time slot — is designed to provide enough time to experience Black Spire Outpost. But those pesky lines will complicate things a bit. Still, you can do it all — if you plan ahead. Oga’s Cantina Know that lines are expected to be long (prohibitively so, at times) at Savi’s Workshop — Handbuilt Lightsabers, Oga’s Cantina, and Millennium Falcon. But if you can prioritize Savi’s and Oga’s and save Millennium Falcon for the second half of your time slot, you should be able to complete all of these experiences. Savi’s Workshop (Shhh! Don’t tell!) The trick is this: most guests are going to make a bee-line for Smugglers Run when the group is let into the land en masse. That means a swollen line for the simulator at the beginning of the four-hour-block that typically diminishes over time. So if you use your first hour or two to build a lightsaber and/or grab a drink at Oga’s, the Millennium Falcon line should be short enough to allow you some time to explore shops and restaurants (not to mention drinking in all those atmospheric details). Lightsabers don’t come cheap! And neither does anything else. Savi’s Workshop is disguised as a scrap metal shop, but you’ll be paying top dollar for your glowing contraband. It’ll cost you $199 to design and build your own lightsaber, but we know that for Star Wars fans, this is an ultimate experience and one on which you can’t put a price. Waiting area at Savi’s Workshop Still, know that this experience is an investment of more than just money. You’ll also be investing time. To enter Savi’s, you’ll need to pay for your lightsaber outside with one of the “Gatherers”. Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive a colored piece of cardboard that will serve as your ticket in when it’s your color group’s turn to build. While you’re waiting, you’ll select your hilt — and in doing so, you’ll select your theme: Peace & Justice, Power & Control, Elemental Nature, or Protection & Defense. Select your hilt here! Savi’s has a build table in the center of the shop, and that table has a capacity for 14 total people — 7 builders and their +1s. We saw about three groups get in per hour, so factor that in when you’re calculating how much time it’ll take for you to even enter the shop. Once inside, you’ll be part of the ‘show’ put on by the Gatherers, who will play up all aspects of your top secret lightsaber-building experience. And note that everything else in the land is priced…really highly…as well. Including the $99 Droids… Pick Your $99 Droid Parts at Droid Depot …$8 Blue and Green Milk… Disneyland Gets Its Very Own Blue Milk Stand! …and $15 drinks (plus those pricey souvenir containers) at Oga’s Cantina! PORG MUG at Oga’s Cantina Being a pilot totally rocks! Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a simulator in which six riders work together to safely maneuver the Millennium Falcon ship through a series of obstacles. But the way the cockpit is designed, the pilots are the only riders who can take in all the visuals. Plus, the pilots have plenty of tasks that including pushing necessary buttons and controlling the up/down/side-to-side motions of the ship. In this way, being the pilot makes for a more engaging experience. Millennium Falcon That’s not to say that the Gunners and Engineers don’t have cool roles, too, just that they can phone it in a little more. Gunners have an option to hold one button that automates all of their tasks. And engineers are only needed insomuch that the ship requires repairs during the ride. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run During the first few weeks of Galaxy’s Edge, guests can likely fit in more than one ride if they use their time wisely. (We only waited about thirty minutes for our ride!) So if you’re not the pilot on your first ride, try another go ’round, and barter with your fellow riders if you must to try to score that pilot’s seat! Flight Crew Assignment And another fun note: the outcomes of Millennium Falcon are dependent on your group’s performance, and even your exit from the ride may change depending on how you do. Plus, your performance can follow you throughout your Black Spire Outpost visit, with citizens of Batuu even commenting on how well (or poorly…) you did when you do things like belly up to the bar at Oga’s! Know The Secrets of Batuu Black Spire Outpost has lots of little surprises — but you’ll need to know what you’re looking for and where to look in order to find them! If you’re a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy, be on the lookout in Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo for the numbers 77, 80, and 83. Docking Bay Cargo Containers Prefer your surprises one-eyed and gigantic? Visit the water fountains near the “Refreshers” in the Marketplace area of the land. You just might meet a dianoga! Regular water fountains? Yikes! Dianoga’s Lurk! And look for the Ark of the Covenant in Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities! Ark of the Covenant in Dok-Ondar’s We’ve got LOTS more to tell you about soon, but those are some fun ones to start with! Eat like a Citizen of Batuu…Even When Your Mouth Goes NUMB! Galaxy’s Edge has five new places to eat or drink, including Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo for quick service, Kat Saka’s Kettle for popcorn, Ronto Roasters for hand-helds, Milk Stand for classic Star Wars sips, and Oga’s Cantina for drinks (alcoholic and non-). All of these locations serve up creative options, often with unfamiliar ingredients or treatments. We noted lots of pickled elements, which can be hit or miss for diners, and plenty of (overly) sweet beverages. So while we weren’t galactically impressed by the food in Batuu, there are some things you’ll for sure want to try. Braised Shaak Roast is on the dinner menu at Docking Bay, and it’s awesome! Braised Shaak Roast Kat Saka sells the signature Outpost Mix which tastes an awful lot like Fruity Pebbles. Kat Saka’s Mix The Ronto Wrap at Ronto Roasters is a celebration of meat! We loved it! Ronto Wrap And many of the drinks at Oga’s Cantina are colorful, creative, and fun. We especially liked the Bespin Fizz and the Fuzzy Tauntaun! Be prepared when your mouth goes numb from that Fuzzy Tauntaun! It’s made with buzz buttons — a botanical that is often referred to as a painkiller for its numbing properties! The Outer Rim, Bespin Fizz, Yub Nub, and Fuzzy Tauntaun ©Disney Parks Fuzzy Tauntaun Foam Drop those Galactic Credits! Shopping in Galaxy’s Edge is a unique experience. Much of the merchandise is exclusive to the land (although there will be limited Galaxy’s Edge merch available in other areas of Disneyland Park, including Passholder exclusives and opening day merch), and prices are usually high ($25,ooo for R2-D2?!). There are two build-your-own options: astromech droids at Droid Depot and lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop. These cost $199 and $99, respectively (with the option to buy more accessories, of course!). R2-D2 We LOVE looking around Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities! Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities Holocrons at Dok-Ondar’s But the fun/confusing bit about shopping in Black Spire Outpost is the Marketplace area of the land, where most of the shops are small and open-air (no doors, just wide open entrances that open to one another), and none of them are labeled with signs. It’s truly like being dropped in a market or bazaar where you might stroll and browse all the wares before making selections. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge And browse you should because the sheer variety and creativity of some merchandise is impressive. Inside Creature Stall Get those cameras out! Photo opportunities are everywhere in Galaxy’s Edge. From the inventive rooflines and rock outcroppings in the background to the tiniest details of bullet holes in the walls, Black Spire Outpost is begging to be photographed. Oga’s Cantina One challenge of the land is that it’s a lot of grey and brown, so do be looking for moments of contrast that provide visual interest. And then, of course, there’s the more obvious photo ops: a blue X-wing and an A-wing fighter in the Resistance area, a TIE Echelon in the First Order Area, the 110-foot Millennium Falcon, and more! TIE Echelon Characters don’t have traditional meet-and-greets in Galaxy’s Edge, so be ready at all times to snap a pic of your favorite. You may find Chewbacca working on ships in the Resistance Area or Rey walking around the Market. Kylo Ren can interact with the TIE Echelon, and Stormtroopers talk (with prerecorded dialogue, it seems). (They may even be deployed to kick visitors out of Black Spire Outpost when they’ve overstayed their welcome!) Kylo-Ren You will find PhotoPass photographers in Galaxy’s Edge, but we didn’t spot any with the characters, so be prepared for potentially more organic interactions that aren’t documented by Disney PhotoPass. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was both what we expected and not, for better and for worse. But there’s no denying fans of the Star Wars canon will finally step foot into a place brings so much of that world to life. Will you be journeying to Batuu and exploring Black Spire Outpost this summer? Let us know what you think in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited a media event for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. In Galaxy’s Edge, much of the food we ate was purchased by US at a preview last week and not provided by Disney. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Related posts: How to Enjoy Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge if You’re NOT a Star Wars Fan! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge RESTAURANT NEWS! Oga’s Cantina Joined By Ronto Roasters, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, and More! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cliffs Notes…Here’s What You Absolutely NEED To Know After The Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB Dropped Last Night! View the full article

If you’re assimilating into the world of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and its village, Black Spire Outpost, you’re going to need a mechanical sidekick. And there’s a Droid Depot for that! Droid Depot Droid Depot is an industrial workshop with a collection of droid parts — and visitors can select from those parts to customize a droid of their very own! If you aren’t looking to customize and just want to pick a droid friend from a selection of premade droids, there are options for you as well. Creating your Droid You’ll have to decide if you want to build a droid from the BB-series (think BB-8-style) or from the R-series (like R2-D2). The depot’s clerk will hand you a blueprint and a basket before you move on to the Parts Station. Pick Your Droid Parts! Here you’ll select parts from a conveyor belt laden with miscellaneous parts. Use your blueprint to get one of everything you need. For the BB-series, you’ll need a dome, dome connection plate, body sphere, and motivator. For the R-series, select a body, dome, center leg, and a pair of side-legs. Droid Building Diagrams Once you’ve collected the parts required to build your droid, move onto the Build Station, and use your blueprints and “placemat” instructions to assemble your droid. (Note: Droid builders will only be allowed to bring one other person with them into the build experience, and one of the two must be 14 or older.) Build Your Droid at the Droid Depot When your droid is assembled, a depot clerk will pair your droid with a remote control, and you and your new sidekick will be released into Black Spire Outpost. Bluetooth Technology But the fun doesn’t stop there. Your astromech droid will use Bluetooth technology to interact with other droids and with the land itself. That’s right: your droid will be able to respond to and be triggered by things in the environment of Black Spire Outpost, making this purchase ($99.99 for a droid and its carry case!) part of the immersive experience of Galaxy’s Edge. Customization And if you want to add even more to your droid, the Droid Depot also offers optional customization for an additional cost. So your droid will be all yours — from nuts to bolts. Customize Your Droid Additional Merchandise And if you want to show Black Spire Outpost just how much you love your droid (or droids in general!), you have to see the other merchandise you’ll find when visiting Droid Depot! Merch at the Droid Depot If you love R2, then you’ll likely be in love with the R2-D2 Headband. We were surprised by the quality and detail. R2-D2 Light-Up Headband Even the back has R2’s little gizmos and gadgets! R2-D2 Light-Up Headband And believe it or not, your R2 headband comes to life! R2-D2 Light-Up Droid Headband That’s right: pop in some batteries, and your headband will beep and light up! It takes a couple of batteries, but they’re included. Battery Instructions If you’re into the newer model, you can pick up a BB-8 headband too! Both droid headbands cost $29.99. BB-8 Headband If you’d prefer some new wardrobe pieces that don’t talk back, try one of these Droid Depot shirts on for size! Droid Depot Shirts There are also plenty of figurines, key chains, and puzzles for your shopping pleasure. Droid Depot Bags and More Merch And a bag to keep it all in! Droid Depot Bag – Up Close! Don’t forget to top it all off with a baseball cap Droid Depot Shirts and MORE If you’re looking for some droid help in the kitchen, you can take home one of these (really awesome!) R2-D2 bowls! R2-D2 Bowls! There’s plenty of other kitchen-ware as well, including plates, tongs, oven mitts, and tea towels featuring everyone’s favorite droid. R2-D2 Plates R2-D2 Oven Mitts Kitchen Tongs Droid Depot Tea Towels Don’t forget the mug to round out your collection! R2-D2 Mug Droid fans can also pick up jewelry… Droid Depot Jewelry …and pins and decals. Droid Depot Pins Droid Depot Decals And if you’d prefer not to build your own droid, you can pick up your very own C-3PO, R2-D2 or DJ-RX3 — the famous Cantina DJ Droid! C-3PO Figurine R2-D2 and DJ R3X These certainly ARE the droids you’re looking for. Roger, roger! Will you be purchasing your very own droid while visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Let us know in the comments below! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited a media event for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Related posts: BRAND NEW Concept Art Revealed for TWO Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Shops! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cliffs Notes…Here’s What You Absolutely NEED To Know After The Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB Dropped Last Night! Step Inside Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge View the full article

At more than 14 acres, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the largest single-themed land in Disney Parks history, packed with immersive storytelling that allows you to live your own Star Wars adventure. Get ready to be transported to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, on a journey to Batuu, the newest location in a story that began in 1977 with the first Star Wars film. You will become part of the story as you sample galactic food and beverages, enter an intriguing collection of merchant shops and take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Scott Trowbridge, Portfolio Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering gives us a peek inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park. Live your own Star Wars adventure when the epic new land opens May 31 at Disneyland park in California and Aug. 29 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.* *Reservations required to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from May 31 to June 23 at Disneyland park in California. Theme parks, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and its experiences are subject to capacity. View the full article

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… World Premiere of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge … a remote village known as Black Spire Outpost was settled on the planet Batuu along the edge of the galaxy’s Outer Rim. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge And WE. ARE. HERE!! Because Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will OPEN in Disneyland on May 31st! We are here for a special media-only event today and tomorrow, AND we’ll be here on the land’s official Opening Day this Friday. And we hope you’ll join us over the next few days as we take in the sights, sounds, scents, and tastes of Black Spire Outpost! Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you don’t miss a thing from Galaxy’s Edge! And stay tuned right here for continual updates to this post so you don’t miss a thing! Subscribe to our DFB Guide YouTube Channel for upcoming footage from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! Are you ready to set foot on Batuu at long last? Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Then please join us… Galaxy’s Edge Batuu exists on the edge of the galaxy tucked in between the Unknown Regions and Wild Space. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge And as the largest settlement on Batuu, Black Spire Outpost has a bit of a reputation. Built on the remains of an extinct civilization and named for the petrified spires that were once trees surrounding it, it’s a stopping place in the galaxy for smugglers, scoundrels, traders, and rogues… and, rumor has it, it also happens to be host to members of the Resistance. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge The First Order has become aware of the presence of the Resistance in Black Spire Outpost, and First Order Battalion 709 plans to take care of business accordingly. Signs of scuffle Tucked within the village are local eateries, including a cantina, and shops for and run by the locals. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge The citizens of Batuu (known as Cast Members, back on earth) may greet you with a “Bright Suns!” for a hello, or bid you farewell with “Till the Spire!” Citizen of Batuu The Outpost is made to wander and explore — you’ll see no signs leading you here and there. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge From the market to the rumored Resistance base to the obvious presence of the First Order, it’s yours to discover it all. And, as the Force would have it, Black Spire Outpost is serving as home to the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy… Millennium Falcon Are you ready to explore it all with us? Then stay tuned RIGHT HERE as we bring you Galaxy’s Edge coverage tonight, tomorrow, and Friday!! Visit our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge page for FULL COVERAGE of Galaxy’s Edge! Access to Galaxy’s Edge A reminder: in these opening weeks — from May 31 – June 23, 2019 — only guests who have a required reservation (in addition to park admission) can enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Starting June 24, 2019, reservations will no longer be required and a virtual queue system for park guests will be in place. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open in Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios on August 29, 2019. Disney invites YOU to “LIVE YOUR STAR WARS STORY!” in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! May the Force Be With You! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Related posts: OGA’S CANTINA to Serve Up Drinks and Entertainment in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!! More Hints About Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge? Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Restaurant Spotlight: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo View the full article

Who’s getting excited for the best movie of summer 2019? Recently, the cast of “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” including actors Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Zendaya (MJ), Jake Gyllenhaal (Mysterio) and Jacob Batalon (Ned) stopped by Disney California Adventure for a surprise visit! Check out a preview of their visit: For more updates on “Spider-Man: Far From Home” before the film his theaters on July 2, 2019, tune in to Disney Parks Blog and watch Freeform and Disney Channel for exclusive content in June. Are you ready for action?! View the full article

We’re just under three months away from the D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim, where we will be unveiling more of our transformative plans for Epcot. To whet your appetite, here are three things to look forward to. The park’s core reimagined: You’ve already heard about the transformation taking place just inside the park’s entrance, where we will be enhancing the area with lush green spaces and classic touches. At the Expo, we’ll share more about what’s coming to the core of the park on the opposite side of Spaceship Earth. New areas will be flanking the iconic attraction, and we can’t wait to share the details with you. A new – but classic – look to match our offerings: Longtime fans of Epcot are familiar with the pavilion icons, like the ones you see here for Imagination!, The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends. With new experiences like the previously announced play-themed pavilion joining these Epcot staples, don’t you think we need some new icons to match? More will be revealed at the Expo! More about what makes Epcot, Epcot – Epcot is special for a lot of reasons – as one of Walt’s final projects, as an exclusive part of the Walt Disney World Resort, and as home to millions of memories from generations of guests. As we charge ahead with the park’s evolution, the architects of Epcot’s future are working to preserve all the elements that make this park so special while also evolving it to be more Disney, more family, more relevant and more timeless. At the Expo, you’ll hear more about experiences that are uniquely Epcot – for example, the updated films coming to Future World and World Showcase, as well as new dining experiences being added to the menu of ‘the foodie park.’ Well, there you go – three things to tide you over in the three months leading up to the D23 Expo. Comment below if we’ll be seeing you there! And if not, rest assured that we’ll be covering all the news from the Expo minute by minute here on the Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Explore S.T.E.A.M. With Disney Youth Education Series View the full article

It’s time to visit Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to see What’s New! We spotted Tron Coaster tracks, noticed a couple of menu changes, and found the most 90s wallet you’ve ever seen. Come along! Storybook Circus What’s New in Magic Kingdom Eats Big DONUT news! And we do mean BIG! Remember this epic Mickey Celebration Donut? Mickey Celebration Donut It came out earlier this month, and we loved it immediately. (See our review here!) In fact, we loved it so much, we compared it to our OTHER favorite massive donut from Joffrey’s. And now, this giant Mickey Donut is snack credit eligible on Disney Dining Plan! At $8.99, that makes it a terrific value! It’s not noted on the sign at The Lunching Pad… The Lunching Pad …but it’s now also available at Cheshire Cafe, where it IS noted with the DDP symbol! We verbally confirmed with a cast member that it is, indeed, eligible at The Lunching Pad, too. Cheshire Cafe now has the Mickey Celebration Donut! Over at Aloha Isle, the Hei Hei Character Cone is gone from the menu, and cast members didn’t know when or if it would be back! See our post about this elusive bird here! The Lost Princess and Adventure Is Out There cones are still available at Storybook Treats and Auntie Gravity’s, respectively. Aloha Isle Refreshments Menu Board Skipper Canteen has introduced new cocktails. See them here! Skipper Canteen Menu The lamb entree at Skipper Canteen has also changed. It’s now called Trader Lamb (a play on Trader Sam!) and comes with roasted vegetables, brown butter tomato sauce, and ras el hanout oil. Skipper Canteen Menu What’s New in Magic Kingdom Merchandise Not much new in merch at Magic Kingdom, but Harveys Designer Ears are still available in Uptown Jewelers. The bags, however, weren’t available. See our post here about the launch of this new line! Harveys Designer Ears And the wallet we’ve all been waiting for, found in the Emporium. It’s… an Aladdin VHS Case wallet! Aladdin VHS Wallet Not only is the cover art just… awesome, the back is, too! Anyone having serious flashbacks, or that’s just us? Aladdin VHS Wallet Maybe the COOLEST part of this wallet is inside where it’s designed to look like… a VHS tape! Aladdin VHS Wallet We also spotted this colorful quartet of Monsters, Inc., pins! We’ve got our eye on you, too, Wazowski! Monsters, Inc.. Pins What’s New in Magic Kingdom Construction We spotted some pretty major construction near the entrance of Magic Kingdom. No word yet on what this is, but we’ll keep watching! Magic Kingdom Entrance Construction Magic Kingdom Entrance Construction Magic Kingdom Entrance Construction Magic Kingdom Entrance Construction The Cinderella Castle Pathway Construction continues to progress. Cinderella Castle Pathway Construction Cinderella Castle Pathway Construction Cinderella Castle Pathway Construction Cinderella Castle Pathway Construction Cinderella Castle Pathway Construction And we can peep more Tron Coaster track from Tomorrowland! Tron Construction Tron Construction If you look at Tron from Goofy’s Barnstormer, you can get an even better view of the tracks (and the massive crane used to lower track pieces into place!). Tron Construction Tron Construction Tron Construction Tron Construction What’s New on Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, U.S.A. Main Street, U.S.A., is getting dressed up in its red, white, and blue! Red, White, and Blue Banners Up on Main Street Red, White, and Blue Banners Up on Main Street Red, White, and Blue Banners Up on Main Street And the Train Station is getting festive, too! Bonus: Magic Kingdom Train Station Magic Kingdom Moment of Zen And, now before we leave the Park, here’s your Magic Kingdom Moment of Zen. Lookin’ right down the middle of Main Street, USA! Yeah, we feel better, too. Thanks for coming along! And stay tuned because we’ve got a BUSY weekend of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge coming up from Disneyland Park! What do you think of this What’s New visit to Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New at Magic Kingdom: Construction Updates, Dumbo Dooneys, Restaurant Refurbishments, and more!! What’s New in Magic Kingdom: Castle Pathway Work, Cosmic Ray’s Gets a Paint Job, and More! What’s New in Magic Kingdom: Tracks, Snacks, and Clothes for Your Back! View the full article

Hi, there! We’re back with another DFB Video today, and we’re talking about what it’s like to eat the most expensive meal in Disneyland! What’s the most expensive meal in Disneyland? We got a chance to dine at the exclusive 21 Royal and we’re sharing all the details with you today! What can you expect from the most expensive experience in Disneyland? Find out in our latest DFB YouTube Video! And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and then let us know: What is your dream meal in Disneyland? Related posts: DFB Video: The Newest Disneyland Must-Eat Snacks! DFB Video: Six Things That Are Way Better in Disneyland Than in Disney World DFB Video: The Best Times to Go to Disneyland in 2019 View the full article

Aladdin on Broadway Stars Surprise Disney Performing Arts Students View the full article

Celebrate Pi Day With the Sweet Science of Baking Pie View the full article

There will be two lounges joining the previously announced Three Bridges Bar & Grill and Toledo — Tapas, Steak & Seafood Restaurant at Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort this summer! Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort The Dahlia Lounge will be located in the Gran Destino Tower when it opens on July 9, 2019. Coronado Springs Dining ©Disney This rooftop lounge will be found next to Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood and will feature “whimsical forms, colors, unique lights, and especially unique libations and dishes.” A selection of wines hand-selected by one of the resident sommeliers will include Spanish cavas, while cocktails will be hand-crafted by mixologists. Dahlia will also serve tapas such as Chilled Marinated Mussels ‘Escabèche,’ Olive Oil-poached Tuna with Lemon, Valdeón Blue Cheese, or Traditional Tortilla Española’ Spanish Potato Omelet. Plates will feature Savory Churros, Roasted Beets, Head on Prawns, Espelette-dusted Marcona Almonds and more. Coronado Springs Dining ©Disney The Barcelona Lounge will be found in the tower lobby with a setting of “eclectic patterns and colors inspired by the beautiful aesthetic of Barcelona, Spain.” By day, the spot will offer a European coffee experience along with Spanish and classic American pastries and breakfast items such as blueberry-lavender honey yogurt with flaxseed granola and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Coronado Springs Dining ©Disney By night, the spot will become an artisanal cocktail bar with “a variety of tonics to complement an international gin collection” including a house-crafted signature Gran Destino Gin Tonic infused with orange saffron. Premium wines and Spanish and American craft beers will also be poured. Small plates will include Spanish charcutería and artisanal cheeses, Lentil Hummus ‘Aceitunas’ Marinated Olives and more. Coronado Springs Dining ©Disney The previously announced Three Bridges Bar & Grill will present table service dining at Villa del Lago over the water of Lago Dorado. Shared plates like Curry-Lentil Hummus, Szechuan Peppercorn Wings and Stuffed Mushrooms will be featured on the menu. Coronado Springs Dining ©Disney Entrees will include the Villa del Lago Salad with arugula, frisée, warm Yukon potatoes, white beans, and asparagus tossed in a bright sherry vinaigrette along with Braised Pork Tacos, Grilled Skirt Steak, Harissa Lamb Chops, Crispy Chicken Sliders and the Three Bridges Signature Burger made with crispy potato, Manchego cheese, roasted garlic-lemon aïoli, arugula and tomato. Dessert options will include warm churros with Espelette pepper sugar and chocolate sauce and a vanilla custard Mickey tart with compressed pineapple and tropical sorbet. Coronado Springs Dining ©Disney House-made sangrias, craft beers and wines from Spain and California will be available along with non-alcoholic beverages. All three of these locations and Toledo — Tapas, Steak & Seafood Restaurant will open in July along with the new Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort! Advance Dining Reservations are currently open for Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood for dates beginning July 9, 2019. Related posts: Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood Rooftop Restaurant And MORE Announced for Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort Reservations Now Open for Toledo — Tapas, Steak, and Seafood Rooftop Dining Coming to Coronado Springs Resort See the Menu for Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood Rooftop Dining Coming to Coronado Springs Resort View the full article

As the transformation of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort continues and we get ready for the opening of the new Gran Destino Tower this July, it’s time to share exciting info on the all-new dining venues set to open this July. In addition to Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood atop the new tower, three more locations will join the resort’s delicious array of restaurants. Sitting at Villa del Lago in the center of the lake, Three Bridges Bar & Grill will introduce a new table service dining experience. Delight in sandwiches, shared plates, and more at this relaxing lakefront restaurant. Sharable plates include yummy dishes like Curry-Lentil Hummus, Szechuan Peppercorn Wings and Stuffed Mushrooms. The entrée menu includes the Villa del Lago Salad with arugula, frisée, warm Yukon potatoes, white beans, and asparagus tossed in a bright sherry vinaigrette. Also featured are Braised Pork Tacos, Grilled Skirt Steak, Harissa Lamb Chops, Crispy Chicken Sliders and the Three Bridges Signature Burger. This mouthwatering burger comes with crispy potato, Manchego cheese, roasted garlic-lemon aïoli, arugula and tomato. And for dessert? Indulge in warm churros with Espelette pepper sugar and chocolate sauce or a vanilla custard Mickey tart with compressed pineapple and tropical sorbet. Of course, what would a bar and grill be without a few refreshing beverages? While you and your friends are dining on the fab food, you can unwind with a vibrant cocktail or share a pitcher of one of the restaurant’s signature house-made sangrias. You’ll also find craft beers from around the world along with a variety of wine styles from Spain and California. Family-friendly non-alcoholic beverage options will also be available. Speaking of appetizers and cocktails, the new Gran Destino Tower will be home to the Dahlia Lounge. Located next to Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood, this rooftop lounge will feature whimsical forms, colors, unique lights, and especially unique libations and dishes. Here you’ll find an array of wines hand-selected by one of our resident master sommeliers, including Spanish cavas. Cocktails are made with exceptional spirits and ingredients hand-crafted by talented mixologists. On the menu are several delicious tapas and plates. Tapas options include Chilled Marinated Mussels ‘Escabèche,’ Olive Oil-poached Tuna with Lemon, Valdeón Blue Cheese, or Traditional Tortilla Española’ Spanish Potato Omelet. Plates include Savory Churros, Roasted Beets, Head on Prawns, Espelette-dusted Marcona Almonds and more. Finally, in the lower lobby of the tower, Barcelona Lounge will feature eclectic patterns and colors inspired by the beautiful aesthetic of Barcelona, Spain. This lounge will offer a European coffee experience as well as Spanish and classic American pastries and breakfast items. Healthful breakfast items include blueberry-lavender honey yogurt with flaxseed granola and fresh-squeezed orange juice. While the coffee experience will be available throughout the day, as the afternoon rolls around, the Barcelona Lounge transitions into an artisanal cocktail bar featuring a variety of tonics to complement an international gin collection. The collection includes a house-crafted signature Gran Destino Gin Tonic infused with orange saffron. A premium sampling of select wines will also be poured in addition to Spanish and American craft beers. There will also be a menu featuring small plates with savory options like Spanish charcutería and artisanal cheeses, Lentil Hummus ‘Aceitunas’ Marinated Olives and more. All of these locations will open in July when Gran Destino Tower opens at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. For more information, full menus, or to make reservations for Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood, visit the Walt Disney World Resort website or call 407 WDW-DINE (407 939-3463). Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more information on the exciting additions to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. For more information and to book hotel reservations for Gran Destino Tower, visit the Walt Disney World Resort website or call 407-W-Disney (407 934-7639) or your travel agent. View the full article

In our “Mom’s Take” video series about cruising to Alaska, Nancy from the Disney Parks Moms Panel has been showing you all kinds of awesome adventures you can have in America’s Last Frontier. But with so many options for things to do and see ashore, the question begs to be asked… “How can I make the most of my days in port?” Of course you won’t be able to do it all, but there are ways that you can maximize your time and see as much as possible without feeling stressed. Take a look at this video for tips, and if you’ve already cruised with us to Alaska, leave us your own tips in the comments. For more on sailing to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line, check out these other videos: A Mom’s Take: An Alaska Cruise Like Only Disney Can Do A Mom’s Take: Wilderness and Wildlife Adventures in Alaska with Disney Cruise Line A Mom’s Take: Adrenaline Pumping Alaskan Adventures with Disney Cruise Line View the full article

How? Cute? Is? THIS?! Double Decker Mickey Shortbread Bus New in Epcot today (according to a Cast Member we spoke with) is this adorable new Double Decker Disney Parks Transport tin bus packed full of yummy Disney Parks Mickey Shortbreads by Walkers of Scotland! Double Decker Mickey Shortbread Bus The bus itself is also packed full of Disney characters!! Double Decker Mickey Shortbread Bus Double Decker Mickey Shortbread Bus Double Decker Mickey Shortbread Bus We spotted this one at Mouse Gear for $27.00. And we also noticed it at The Tea Caddy in the United Kingdom Pavilion (an especially fitting spot!). Mickey Shortbreads Info Note that the cookies are Mickey-shaped (as opposed to the more commonly found Mickey Rounds that we’re used to). Are you getting on board the new Double Decker Mickey Shortbread Bus ? Related posts: What’s New in Disney World’s Epcot! August 6, 2018 SO CUTE! More Disney Snack Jewelry Debuts in Disney World (Including A Necklace You Can’t Miss)! Every. Single. Rose Gold Snack. in Disney World View the full article

We love making a pit stop over at the Cozy Cone Motel for some Chili Cone Queso or for a few Breakfast Scramble Cones. Cozy Cone Motel Neon But there are some all-new snacks currently calling our names over at the Cozy Cone Motel… The Disney California Adventure quick service location just released three flavors of Elote Cozy Corn! Each one of these is buttered corn on the cob brushed with spicy lime mayo. Next, the elote is rolled in whichever flavor you choose from Cojita, Cheese Puffs, and Spicy Cheese Puffs. We want to give a BIG thanks to @itsjamesholmes on Insta for this yummy picture of all three! Cozy Cone Elote And, of course, we couldn’t resist trying it ourselves. Let’s take a bigger bite into the Cheese Puffs Cozy Corn. Cheddar Puffs Cozy Cone Elote Honestly, we thought the flavors were amazing and we really liked how the cheese complimented the other flavors! Overall, we really enjoyed it. Cheddar Puffs Cozy Cone . Elote Now…these are listed as seasonal offerings at Cozy Cone Motel Cone 5, so get ’em quick! Note that you can’t use any sort of discount on these guys, so the price is $6.49 for a Cozy Corn. What’s your favorite Cozy Cone Motel snack? Let us know in the comments below! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Related posts: Holiday Eats at Disneyland Resort Disneyland Review: Birthday Hat Macaron at Cozy Cone Motel in Disney California Adventure Review: BBQ Crunch Dog and Fried Bananas at Award Wieners in Disney California Adventure View the full article

If you haven’t attended the Epcot International Epcot Flower & Garden Festival this year or are planning to return to explore the topiaries, experience the Outdoor Kitchens and enjoy the Garden Rocks Concert Series, you better hurry because the festival ends June 3! And qué mejor manera to end the festival than a salsa performance from Eddie Palmieri! The 82-year old musical legend is the winner of multiple Grammy Awards in the Salsa and Latin Jazz genres, and will be closing out this year’s Garden Rocks Concert Series. Eddie will be performing on June 2 – 3, making this the first time that he participates in the concert series and his first time performing at Walt Disney World Resort. “Azucar”, “Muñeca” and “Vámonos Pa’l Monte” will be just some of the many songs you might hear in his lively performances. “I’m looking forward to my first appearance at the Garden Rocks Concert Series,” Eddie said. “It’s an honor to bring my Salsa Orchestra to this iconic Disney park. Everyone needs to bring their dancing shoes!” Garden Rocks Concert Series performances take place at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. each night of the festival and are included with regular park admission. Guests can enjoy guaranteed concert seating by reserving a Garden Rocks Dining Package and enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner at select Epcot restaurants. For more info or to make a reservation, call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or visit FreshEpcot.com. View the full article

Just last week Disney announced that select Disney World Resort hotels would soon begin to offer Mobile Order. And the first of the new Resort hotel dining locations just went live on Mobile Order through the My Disney Experience app for Walt Disney World guests! Everything Pop Shopping and Dining Everything POP Shopping & Dining — the Pop Century Resort food court — is the first of the newest additions to Mobile Order dining options! Everything POP on Mobile Order As a refresher, Mobile Order is a feature available within the My Disney Experience app which allows guests to pre-order and pre-pay for their food at participating Counter Service Restaurants around Disney World. Upon arrival to the restaurant, guests using Mobile Order can then bypass the ordering queue and go straight to a designated Pick Up Counter to get their food. Everything POP on Mobile Order Though Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort has, for some time now, offered Mobile Order at two of its dining locations (Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill), up until now the feature has primarily been available in the Disney World parks and D-Luxe Burger in Disney Springs. But this time-saving option will likely be welcome by many Disney Resort hotel guests! In coming weeks, Mobile Order will also expand to The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Contempo Café in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and we’ll be keeping you posted! Are you excited that Mobile Order is expanding to Disney World Resort hotels? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Art of Animation Resort, and Pop Century Resort: July 13, 2018 The 2018 Happy Halloween Disney World Refillable Resort Mugs Are Here! What’s New at Disney’s Pop Century Resort: Celebrating Nine Decades with Mickey and More! View the full article

When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at the Disneyland Resort in just a few days, you will be invited to step into the Star Wars universe for the very first time and live your own Star Wars adventures. To help you plan ahead and prepare for your visit, here are nine things to “know before you go” to this epic, new land, opening May 31. 1. Reservations are required to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge between May 31 and June 23. If visiting during this time, valid theme park admission and a reservation are needed to enter the new land at Disneyland park. If you have a reservation, you may check in at Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland up to 2 hours prior to your reservation start time, and go to the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge entrance as directed when your reservation begins. When you check in, please bring your reservation confirmation (including QR code), government-issued ID and all members of your party listed on the reservation. At this time, general reservations are no longer available on Disneyland.com. 2. You can still get a reservation to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge by staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel between May 31 and June 23*. Guests staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels between May 31 and June 23 will receive a designated reservation to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during their stay (one reservation per registered guest; valid theme park admission required). Hotel guests will be notified of their reservation date and time with their registration confirmation. You may book a stay at Disneyland.com/Hotels or call (714) 520-5060. If the hotel reservation is cancelled, the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation will be cancelled. 3. No standby line will be available to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge between May 31 and June 23. Only guests with reservations will be able to access the land during this time.* 4. If you plan on visiting opening day, May 31, there is no need for guests with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservations to arrive early because of the reservation system we have in place. You can begin to check in two hours prior to your reservation start time. You may begin parking at select theme park parking lots at midnight. 5. Reservations will no longer be required to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge after June 23. As needed, to manage demand, Disneyland Resort will implement a virtual queueing system to visit the new land so you can enjoy the rest of the resort while waiting to visit Batuu. The Disneyland app will have a dedicated module, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Status and Access, available from the main page, on which you can request to join a boarding group to visit the land, once you have entered the park. Boarding groups will be sent a push notification when it is their turn to enter the land and they can monitor status of boarding groups from the app. There will also be the ability to join a boarding group from select locations inside Disneyland park, if you are not using the app. The boarding group is tied to admission media that will be scanned upon entry into the land. Signage throughout the park will also display boarding group status. Admission into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be subject to capacity, and having an assigned boarding group will not guarantee entrance to the land. 6. The current Disneyland Resort costume policy will be in effect in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Costumes may not be worn by guests 14 years of age or older. Appropriate Disney bounding – dressing in outfits inspired by favorite characters – is permitted. 7. Download the official Disneyland mobile app to plan ahead and make the most of your visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The Disneyland app** allows you to check the attraction wait time, locate character encounters and even utilize the mobile ordering feature at select dining locations when you are in the new land. 8. Prepare for your visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge by downloading the Play Disney Parks mobile app in advance of your arrival. The Play Disney Parks app** allows you to deepen your engagement with the land and interact with the world around you on the planet Batuu. Should you choose to engage through the app, you will be able to interact with droids, translate Aurebesh, scan cargo crates and other containers to collect virtual items, and more. 9. Inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, our goal is to provide a great guest experience. For example, while you are in the queue at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, you will have the ability to purchase snacks, utilize a continued process to visit the restroom, enjoy cast interactions, and also engage with an in-queue game while using the Play Disney Parks mobile app to make wait times fun, interactive and enjoyable. For more information, check out our “Know Before You Go” video series below: Know Before You Go: Dishing About Food & Beverages in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort Know Before You Go: Opening Day Questions Answered for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort Know Before You Go: Opening Day Merchandise for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort Know Before You Go: Parking During Your Visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort Know Before You Go: Download the Disneyland and Play Disney Parks Apps When Visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort *Access to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge experiences is subject to capacity. After June 23, 2019, when reservations will no longer be required, access to Disneyland Park, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and experiences is subject to capacity. **Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. View the full article